James Bulger killer could be freed within weeks, victim’s father says

‘He is a dangerous, predatory child abuser and killer, and I am terrified he will strike again and harm another child like my James,’ Ralph Bulger says

One of James Bulger’s killers could soon be released from prison with a new identity, the murdered child’s father has said.

Ralph Bulger said the “predatory killer” formerly known as Jon Venables will be eligible for parole within weeks.

The 36-year-old was returned to prison in 2010 and 2017 for possessing indecent images of children and is currently serving a 40-month sentence.

Venables, who will leave prison with a new identity, made headlines around the world when he walked two-year-old James Bulger away from his mother in a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, in February 1993.

Along with Robert Thompson, who was also 10-years-old at the time, he tortured and killed the toddler, before leaving his body on a train track.

Criticising the decision to release him, Mr Bulger told the Daily Mirror: “Venables is up for parole any time now, and if it is granted he will be released into the community under a fake name and secret new identity. He is a dangerous, predatory child abuser and killer, and I am terrified he will strike again and harm another child like my James.”

Venables and Thompson were jailed for life, but released on licence with new identities in 2001.

Venables, 36, was returned to prison in 2010 and 2017 for possessing indecent images of children. He is currently serving a 40-month sentence, half of which will have been served in October.

The Daily Mirror reports that a parole hearing will follow at a date to be determined by the Ministry of Justice.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice declined to comment.

A Parole Board spokesperson said: ”The parole review of Jon Venables has not been referred to the Parole Board.”

Mr Bulger said he had warned against Venables’ release in 2013 but the parole board were “hoodwinked” into thinking the killer was reformed.

“He wasn’t, and he went on to commit more crimes. He has proven he will never be rehabilitated and will always remain a danger to children,” he said. “I don’t believe he will stop until he has killed again.”

He added: “The Parole Board have the power to prevent him having the chance to harm young children again.”

Earlier this year, James Bulger’s family lost a legal battle to make information about Venables public.

In a ruling announced in March, the judge said the lifelong anonymity order had to remain in place to avoid the killer being “put to death”.